text:
Services on Demand
Related links
- Cited by Google
- Similars in Google
In die Skriflig
On-line version ISSN 2305-0853
Print version ISSN 1018-6441
In Skriflig (Online) vol.47 n.1 Pretoria Jan. 2013
Fighting corruption - a philosophical approach
Die stryd teen korrupsie - 'n filosofiese benadering
Schalk W. Vorster
Faculty of Theology, North-West University, South Africa
Corruption has reached astounding proportions in South Africa. The purpose of this article is to contribute to philosophical approaches aimed at combating corruption. In considering punishment for acts of corruption the most common approach is based on the philosophical theory of consequentialism, which allows only consideration of the consequences of corrupt acts. Ideally, cognisance should be taken of the norms in question, especially those norms demanding the judicious execution of obligations. It was, however, found that the Kantian categorical imperative presupposes an ideal rational society. The imperative has to be 'softened' by also allowing for enquiry about the corruptor's personal circumstances, in the light of Christ's love commandment. This article highlights the most prominent attributes of two important philosophical theories applicable to the study of corruption, namely utilitarianism (a variant of consequentialism) and deontology. It is argued that qualified deontological and utilitistic approaches hold the best promise to curb corruption in the long run. The conclusion is that the state will urgently have to attend to the social context by revitalising programmes of 'social renewal', based on effective application of the law, the provision of adequate education and the eradication of poverty. There is also an urgent need for the 'moral renewal' of the entire population, focused on Christian values, operationalised within the context of the South Africa of today. Herein lies a massive task for the church.
Korrupsie het verstommende afmetings in Suid-Afrika aangeneem. Die doel van hierdie artikel is om 'n bydrae te lewer tot filosofiese benaderings wat daarop gemik is om korrupsie te bestry. By die oorweging van strawwe vir korrupte dade word die mees algemene benadering gebaseer op die teorie van konsekwensialisme, wat slegs die gevolge van korrupte dade oorweeg. Ideaal-gesproke behoort ook kennis geneem te word van die norme wat ter sprake is, veral dié norme wat die getroue nakoming van pligte vereis. Daar is egter gevind dat die Kantiaanse kategoriese imperatief 'n ideale rasionele gemeenskap veronderstel. Die imperatief moet dus 'versag' word deur, in die lig van Christus se liefdesopdrag, plek te maak vir oorwegings in verband met die korrupte agent se persoonlike omstandighede. Die studie is uitgevoer deur 'n oorsig van die belangrikste standpunte van twee filosofiese teorieë, naamlik utilitarisme ('n variant van konsekwensialisme) en deontologie te gee. Daar is aangevoer dat gekwalifiseerde deontologiese en utilitaristiese benaderings belofte inhou om korrupsie op die langtermyn te beteuel. Die gevolgtrekking was dat die staat dringend aandag moet skenk aan die sosiale konteks deur die inwerkingstelling van 'n proses van 'sosiale vernuwing', gebaseer op die effektiewe toepassing van die wet, die voorsiening van voldoende onderwys en die bestryding van armoede. Daar is ook 'n dringende behoefte aan die 'morele vernuwing' van die bevolking, met die fokus op Christelike waardes, geoperasionaliseer vir die Suid-Afrika van vandag. Hierin lê 'n groot taak vir die kerk.
Corrupt behaviour has the dishonest acquisition of some form of advantage as its basis and is widely considered an important ethical issue.
Corruption in various forms has been with humankind from the earliest times. In the present time corruption is rampant and occurs in multiple manifestations. It is a ubiquitous phenomenon intensified by the worldwide expansion of trade, the existence of global crime syndicates, the expansion of international aid to underdeveloped countries, the internet, and by governments with weak prosecuting systems. The role of the state (or rather agents of the state), whilst not the only arena for the perpetration of corruption, is certainly a major factor in Africa where weak governments are the rule rather than the exception. In South Africa in particular, corruption has grown into a major problem. It is affecting all levels of government and a large part of the private sector, annually costing the country billions of Rand and corroding the moral fabric of society (Vorster 2012:133; Du Plessis & Breedt 2013:2). In some communities corruption is experienced as directly contributing to poverty (Aleixo 2011:64; Du Plessis & Breedt ibid:6).
This paper is an attempt to elucidate the true nature of corruption by means of a philosophical approach in which both deontological and consequential ethics will be considered. It will be argued that corruption, in essence, amounts to the abandonment or perversion of specific obligations and that deontology possibly points the way to redemption.
Forms of corruption
Vorster (2012) has extensively reviewed the occurrence of private and public sector corruption in South Africa. Because of its pervasive nature, an adequate formulation of a definition of corruption is almost impossible. Andvig and Fjeldstad (2001:5-6) report a few definitions, but find them only useful in the classification of the different types of corruption. The World Bank (1997:8) states that 'corruption is the abuse of public power for private benefit (or profit)'. The deficiency of this definition is immediately apparent in the light of the pervasive nature of corruption alluded to above. Miller and Blacker (2005:112) conclude that, in the light of failures of analytical definitions to adequately describe corruption, it is tempting to try to sidestep the problem of providing a theoretical account of the concept of corruption by simply identifying corruption with specific legal and/or moral offences.
Andvig and Fjeldstad (2001:5) typify the different forms of corruption as particular state-society relationships, distinguishable in political corruption and bureaucratic corruption. They also make two further distinctions, namely individual-collective corruption and 'upward extraction/ downward redistribution'. Andvig and Fjeldstad's classification fails to address corruption in all its manifestations. Various taxonomies of corruption are provided in the literature, for example by Van der Walt (2003:401) and Spence, Miller and Roberts (2005:2). It seems pointless to simply add offences to the existing lists. There is bound to be disagreement in relation to any such list, quite apart from the fact that the development of technology probably adds new forms of corruption almost on a daily basis.
Superimposed on the evasive concept of corruption is the fact that it is frequently 'softened' by certain local socio-cultural customs. Andvig and Fjeldstad (2001:54) cite the practice of guanxi [gift giving] in China and blat [the use of personal networks and informal contacts to obtain goods and services in short supply and to find a way around formal procedures] in Russia. In Africa, ethnocentrism, nepotism and/or political affiliations are frequently the driving forces behind acts of corruption (Van der Walt 2003:406). However, different forms of favouritism are found all over the world. Maestripieri (2012) describes a particular form of nepotism that is rife in academic circles in Italy. Influential academics (known as baroni) regulate admission to graduate programmes and academic posts to ensure that family members and children of friends or politicians are awarded places, frequently to the detriment of more suitably qualified candidates. Maestripieri views nepotism from within an evolutionistic worldview and declares that it has natural origins and aims to maintain the own DNA. Nepotism is a classic example of collective self-interest (Spence et al. 2005:74).
As there are numerous examples of wrongful acts not considered corruption, although abhorrent on moral or ethical grounds, a clear distinction between a corrupt act and other immoral acts is essential. It is therefore necessary to explore those characteristics of corruption that can be considered as uniquely typifying it in order to arrive at the essence of corruption.
The essence of corruption
At the outset, it is necessary to consider that corruption always involves an appointed task that is not carried out, or carried out in a perverted way, in order to gain something of value wrongfully. A study of corruption will therefore require an analysis of the deontological aspects of corrupt actions.
Miller and Blacker (2005:115-116) point out that, in order to not revert to subsuming corruption under the general notion of immoral actions, one has to stress that it is a causal phenomenon having ramifications stretching much further than the corrupt act per se, in view of its involvement of other persons and/or institutions. They present the following assumptions regarding corruption:
• An action is corrupt if it morally degrades a person or an institution (e.g. perverts, destroys or subverts honesty or integrity), regardless if any laws or rules have been broken.
• Those who are corrupted and those who corrupt differ in respect of their intentions and beliefs concerning the corrupting effect of their actions.
The authors point out that those who are corrupted are not always blameless, as collusion is frequently evident, in which case the parties involved each fulfils the role of corruptor and corrupted. The corruptor also corrupts himself, although probably unintentionally. The corrupt character of the corruptor is revealed when he offers a bribe, even if it is subsequently rejected by the would-be corrupted.
A complicating factor with regard to the study of acts of corruption is that different communities have different conceptions of right and wrong - what the one may regard as corrupt, another might regard as normal honest practice. When the state, a company or an institution is involved in acts of corruption, it is frequently found that perfectly honest employees are drawn into a nexus of corrupt practices by their employer, but that they do not feel personally accountable. An important characteristic of corruption, namely its propensity to engender the type of 'atmosphere' in which it can prosper, must count as one of its most disturbing traits (cf. Vorster 2012).
An act of corruption establishes a special type of bond between the corruptor and the corrupted, and is initiated by the corruptor. It is also important to recognise that an act of corruption somewhat blurs the distinction between the corruptor and the corrupted as they are both drawn into a web of unethical or immoral behaviour. The corruptor, in a sense, seizes control of the morality of the corrupted, separating him from ethically and morally acceptable obligations by coercing him to abandon those obligations from which he is isolated. The corruptor uses the corrupted as means to an end. The corrupted is compelled to embrace a deontology based on mistrust, deceit, dread, avariciousness and hate, thereby relinquishing a deontology based on love, respect, reliability, honesty and respectability. Secrecy is such an important aspect of corruption that many governments, in true Machiavellian style, pass legislation in order to ensure that corrupt actions are kept under wraps.
It is concluded that the pernicious nature of corruption can be summarised by its degrading effects on people and its tendency to create an environment that is continually being made more 'corruption-friendly' if corruption is allowed to fester unabated.
The relationship established by an act of corruption shifts the focus to the duties and the actions of the respective agents, but also to the corrective actions considered by the relevant authorities. What ought they have done, what did they in fact do and what are the consequences of their actions? These questions are questions of normative ethics and the problems will now be viewed from both a utilitist and a deontological perspective. Utilitarianism accepts that an act is only right (good) if it results in the maximum amount of good, referred to as 'happiness' (Mill 1907:16).
Approaches to corruption and combating corruption
The focus on acts of corruption may mainly be placed 'before the act' by deontologists and 'after the act' by utilitarians. Utilitarians maintain that people must act morally in ways that will produce the best consequences. Deontologists rely on adherence to certain rules in order to militate against acts of corruption. Deontology as a rule-based normative ethical theory illuminates the moral dimension of human activities, especially those that concern human obligations and responsibilities. Deontologists see punishment for criminal deeds as a means of deterrence, whilst utilitarianism views punishment from the retributive angle. Both these approaches demand special attention in a study of corruption.
The utilitarian approach
Because the utilitarian approach places emphasis mainly on the consequences of acts, it can be inferred that a person involved in an act of corruption will tend to pay scant attention to any laws and rules forbidding corruption. An action is considered right if it results in happiness - not the agent's own happiness, but 'the greatest amount of happiness altogether' (Mill 1907:16). Actions are right if they tend to promote happiness and wrong if they do the reverse (Mill ibid:9). This leads Owen (2011:6) to conclude: 'If corruption and maladministration neither promote pleasure nor prevent pain for the general good they are not morally wrong from a utilitarian point of view.'
Turning to the punitive aspect pertaining to the corrupt act, it must be pointed out that it is of essence reactive in nature. As a consequence of the utilitarian style of reasoning, the resultant action by the authorities must be focused on inducing the maximum measure of total 'happiness'. This should include the perpetrator, as well as society at large. Any deliberation in respect of combating corruption will ask three general questions (LaFollette 2007:25):
• Which consequences should be counted?
• How much weight or consideration should be given to those that do count?
• How should those considerations be used in deliberation?
Some consequences of corruption have minimal moral effects and will therefore not feature prominently in any deliberations, whilst others may have widespread and serious implications. Personal circumstances during the execution of the corrupt act, as well as its contingent consequences, will have to be considered in the utilitarian approach. LaFollette writes (2007:26): 'The factors that determine whether a consequence counts also determine its nature: does it advance or set back someone's significant interest?' Consequently, the determination of the weight of an act of corruption requires careful study and, in the worst case, might be highly subjective.
Act-utilitarianism and rule-utilitarianism are two variants of the utilitist view of the moral actions of persons (LaFollette 2007:28). In act-utilitarianism no prior reasons are to be included when considering punishment for acts of corruption. It suffers from the weakness that no normative rules, laws, etc. may be taken into consideration. The deficiency of this position is partly alleviated by rule-utilitarianism, which will consider rules or norms, as well as consequences, in deliberations of morality. The fear exists that courts of law, for example, could subjectively devalue rules by ascribing to them a lower weight (for example when 'corruption-friendly' local customs are involved) and also by narrowing the scope of the consequences of a corrupt act.
The establishment of the balance between rules and consequences in rule-utilitarianism is not always easy. Hodgson (1967:71-72) partly concedes that no form of utilitarianism can adequately account for the importance of certain moral rules. He maintains that one form of rule-utilitarianism, namely 'individual-rule-utilitarianism', ensures proper consideration by judges. He believes that individual-rule-utilitarianism is more in accord with the convictions of most persons as to the importance of moral rules and the duty to obey them (Hodgson ibid:6). This rule is explained by him as follows (Hodgson ibid:63): 'An act is right if and only if it is in accordance with the agent's acceptance of which as a personal rule would have best consequences ... ' The disadvantage of this notion is the large element of arbitrariness introduced as a result of the absence of any norm that transcends human consciousness. The above considerations cast a shadow on the appropriateness of any utilitist approach to the combating of corruption.
Deontic approaches
A basic distinction between the utilitarian approach and the deontological approach to the adjudication of matters concerning corruption is that the judge will look in different directions, depending on the style of reasoning. As alluded to earlier, the view in the utilitarian style is to the future and in the deontic to the past (cf. Rawls 2000:481). Central to the deontic argument is the existence of certain rules, be they commandments, laws, codes of practice or 'standing orders', which act as moral compasses. This approach rests on Kant's rational categorical imperative as an absolute rule for moral behaviour (Kant 2002:229). Deontologists therefore ascribe to strict rule-based morals when dealing with others. Blanchard (1961) points out that:
Deontologists have shown a fidelity to actual moral judgment that is probably closer than that of any other contemporary school. They have argued with great force that moral judgments are really judgments, not expressions of feelings only, and here - for whatever it is worth - common sense is undoubtedly on their side. (p. 159)
A deontological approach to corruption will therefore require careful attention to moral norms and their relation to conscience in the human mind.
Deontology and conscience
The doctrine of conscience has had a long history of development (Prins 1937:196-244). The Stoics amalgamated the main ideas of Heraclitus of Ephesus (540-475 BC) with the Doctrine of Ideas of Plato and referred to the Logos [law] as 'god' who instils ideas in humans by means of logoi spermatikoi (rational seeds), which was seen as the origin of conscience. The padres largely accepted this doctrine, which they based on John 1. In the Middle Ages Alexander of Hales (1185-1245) first wrote extensively about conscience. He distinguished two parts of the soul: pars animae sensibilis [the senses] and pars animae rationalis [The rational or spiritual competencies]. Under the pars animae rationalis, Hales placed the conscience (synteresis) (Prins ibid:206). The synteresis provides knowledge to and propels man, and cannot be extinguished. Also the will belongs to the synteresis and is differentiated in natural will (voluntas naturalis) and reason-based will (voluntas deliberativa) (Prins ibid:210). It appears that he distinguishes between an unchangeable part (synteresis) and a changeable part (conscientia). Further development occurred in the Scholastic period, with Aquinas exerting the most influence in both Protestant and Roman Catholic ethics. Prins comes to the conclusion that synteresis and conscientia would become the poles within which the doctrine of conscience would evolve in future (Prins ibid:211).
The concepts of synteresis and conscientia were taken over by the Reformers who gave them somewhat different meanings. But Prins remarks that the traditional and the later reformational concepts cannot be disentwined entirely (Prins 1937:248). Calvin does, however, introduce new elements. In a powerful sentence, Calvin summarises the most important elements of the reformational concept of conscience (Calvin 1957a):1
That there exists in the human mind, and indeed by natural instinct, some sense of Deity, we hold to be beyond dispute, since God himself, to prevent any man from pretending ignorance, has endued men with some idea of his Godhead, the memory of which he constantly renews and occasionally enlarges, that all to a man, being aware that there is a God, and that he is their Maker, may be condemned by their own conscience when they neither worship him nor consecrate their lives to his service. (p. 43)
Calvin therefore sees the following attributes of conscience (cf. Prins 1937:250):
• It is associated with common grace (universis).
• Common grace is continuously being granted up to the present day (assidue renovans and novas subinde guttas instillat).
• Common revelation does not occur in a sensational way (subinde instillat).
• The main content of common revelation is that man is aware that there is a God (quandam sui numinis intelligentiam).
• All men are condemned by their own conscience (suo ipsorum testimonio damnentur). The conscience therefore acts as an accusatory conscience.
Prins (1937:254) discerns Calvin's association of common grace and natural law with 'conscience', but believes that he actually refers to synteresis in the last instance, ascribing a meaning to it that differs from that used in the Middle Ages. Without explicitly using the word synteresis, Prins (ibid:255) finds an implicit description of the concept in the Institutes: 'Hence this distinction between honourable and base actions God has not only engraven on the minds of each, but also often confirms in the administration of his providence' (Calvin 1957b:75). Prins maintains that the synteresis is the seat of norms. He finds that the synteresis doctrine teaches us to distinguish between a firm and invariable foundational norm (synteresis), and a variable and fallible element (conscience) (Prins ibid:520, 462).
In the present time, both the terms synteresis and conscientia have fallen into disuse, leaving only 'conscience' (Greek: suneidesis), which includes both universal rules and particular cases (Reese 1980:103). It appears, however, that the basic ideas pertaining to these concepts are still latent in modern ethical philosophy.
It seems reasonable to conclude that part of a person's morality has a natural basis and is shaped only by cultural influences (Pope 2007:257). It is therefore not surprising that peoples with different cultural backgrounds have different conceptions of right or wrong, especially if they are not amenable to adhere to specific moral codes engraved in the synteresis. These conceptions eventually coalesce into a shared worldview, or consensus gentium, namely the universal, or very wide, agreement between peoples in respect of certain customs and beliefs (Mautner 2005:119).
Conscience depends partly on accurate information, and partly on conditioning by the environment and by habits (Pierce 1955:127). As Blanchard (1961) puts it:
It ... is the deposit of parental example, of the instruction of teachers, and of the pressure of society, themselves in turn the product of centuries of experimentation. Conscience is thus the voice of our own hitherto accepted ideal, recording its yes or no to a proposed line of conduct. It does not in general argue; it simply affixes its seal or enters its protest. (p. 33)
Christian philosophers view conscience (in a wider sense) as an innate understanding of God's truth, and it influences the distinguishing and evaluation of personal acts. Perry (2005:16) discerns four important aspects of conscience: '(1) its relation to the inner man; (2) its relation to the understanding; (3) its task of bearing witness; and (4) its influence on personal judgment'. He continues (Perry ibid):
The conscience's association with the inner man and its affiliation with the understanding relate to the nature of the conscience, while the conscience's task of bearing witness and its responsibility in personal judgment relate to its role. (p. 17)
To the Christian, conscience is that faculty of man that monitors his obedience to the will of God. A clear awareness of conscience may be present, even in persons who profess that they do not believe in God. Conscience seems to point to a transcosmic law that anticipates God and can bring about shame, even when our actions have the approval of public opinion. If we act unethically, our conscience can cause feelings of loneliness and abandonment, leaving us defenceless before God (Stoker 1967:309-319).
Wallace (2012:1) considers the following scenarios relating to the deontic structure of morality and the demands that morality make on human acts in general:
• Reasons that are normative for all agents, without reference to the personal preferences or interests.
• Reasons that are weighty to such an extent that they override normative considerations.
Wallace (2012) attempts to discover the differences between 'aspirational' normativity and 'deontic' normativity with respect to the above-mentioned scenarios, and finds it necessary to allude to the social context within which the individual's deliberation takes place. The notion of the social context leads Wallace to believe that reciprocal (or bipolar) normative structures form the key to the understanding of the idea of deontic structure. He traces discretional (aspirational) normativity to the local social context, and deontic normativity to reciprocal structures between individuals. The application of reason in such a structure gives it the character of an obligation, in contradistinction to the 'free standing' forms of aspirational normativity. It means that 'we have a certain latitude to ignore or discount aspirational reasons, of a kind we do not have when it comes to reasons that exhibit deontic structure'. Discretional (aspirational) normativity is dictated by the local social context (the 'here and now'), and is a human construct without any compelling 'normative power'. Deontic normativity seems to be more resistant to social influence and is based on reciprocal structures between individuals (Wallace ibid:29).
The influence of the local social context (the 'here and now') is an important aspect in the study of corruption. As previously alluded to, if corruption is allowed to continue unchallenged, the social context itself is corrupted, resulting in the devaluation of 'discretional normativity', and thereby engendering a greater measure of tolerance towards corruption. Every corrupt transactional relationship established becomes a node in the web of corruption. It does, however, seem that Wallace is somehow shifting the responsibility for crimes (including acts of corruption) from the humans involved to the external circumstances existing during these acts. This horizontal stance is also discernible in his notion of the origin of deontic normativity as formed by a nexus of individual human relationships.
Stoker (1970) distinguishes between 'general deontics' and 'contingent deontics'. The former relates, according to Stoker, to general norms and laws, as exemplified by 'amongst others, the general norms (or laws) of thought, language and art, of rights, ethics and religion' Stoker (ibid:183). They are binding on all men for all time and under all circumstances. General deontics (norms and laws) have their origin in the creative will of God. General deontic norms are timeless and belong to the order of creation (Stoker ibid:183). 'Contingent' deontics determine what man ought to do 'here and now'. Stoker points out that, in all his tasks, man has a deontic choice whether he will submit himself to the deontics concerned or disobey them. Stoker (ibid:183) continues: 'Human freedom is realised on account of his choice between his ... possibilities (or tasks) and by his submission (obedience) to the deontic determinants concerned'. He also states that 'all the general deontics and all the contingent deontics together are, furthermore, interrelated and entwined' (Stoker ibid:183). In addition, contingent deontics are neither deductible from, nor reducible to general deontics and they are subject to general deontics. Contingent deontics have their origin in the governing will of God. The author points out that man can make choices subject to both general deontics and contingent deontics. Man may choose to obey or disobey both 'general' and 'contingent' deontic norms. His freedom resides in obedience of deontic norms and, conversely, disobedience (as, for example, manifested in acts of corruption) leads to loss of freedom and enslavement in a secret nexus of dishonesty. The 'normative power' of contingent deontics is subject to personal conceptions of right or wrong. Stoker (ibid:182) states that 'on account of man's freedom of choice for his actions ... man is, and must be, accountable for his actions'.
The upshot of the above treatment of the conscience is that synteresis-conscience is the receptacle for timeless norms inscribed into the hearts of all people and which God granted to all in terms of his common grace. Paul writes (Rm 2):
Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them. (vv. 14-15)
These norms are sometimes inhibited by the sinner, but can never be extinguished.
In contradistinction to the synteresis-conscience, the conscientia-conscience can be influenced by various factors. In the Bible, the conscientia-conscience is variously depicted as weak (1 Cor 8:10; 1 Tt 4:1-5; Heb 5:14), defiled (1 Tt 1:15; Ac 4:12), seared (1 Tt 4:1-2; Heb 3:8-13), evil (Heb 10:22; 9:7-13; Mt 26:35; 69-75), a source of good (Ac 23:1; 1 Pt 3:21), etc. Paul writes in Titus 1:
[T]o those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. (v. 15)
In the context of the present study, the contribution of the social context to the corruption of the conscience is considered of prime importance.
Anti-corruption strategies
'In the arsenal of techniques advocated for fighting corruption the ethical causes are often ignored or are mentioned only in passing - as if they are peripheral to the phenomenon' (Van der Walt 2003:407). The question of morality and corruption is a personal and a communal problem, as Spence et al. (2005) point out:
The successful combating of crime and corruption presupposes a moral community: a community of people who for the most part try to do what is morally right and to avoid doing what is morally wrong, because they desire or believe that they ought to do what is right and to avoid doing what is wrong. (p. 197)
How is such a society established if it has been largely infiltrated by a corrupt culture? In any programme of moral renewal, the 'education' and activation of the conscience of every individual will obviously play a pivotal role.
A recurring theme in the development of the closely related concepts of 'conscience' and 'morality' is their dual natures. On the one hand there is their more permanent manifestation, variously referred to as 'general deontics', 'Christianised conscience' or 'deontic reasons', and on the other hand a variable manifestation typified as 'contingent deontics', 'aspirational reasons' or 'contingent deontics'.
There is no free movement of ideas from 'aspirational reasons' to 'deontic' ones simply by the imposition of arbitrary sanctions or penalties in the event of non-compliance (cf. Wallace 2012:16). It means that the cascading of ethical conduct is essentially a 'top-down' process. Ideas flow from the ethical principles residing in the synteresis to the consentia, and not vice versa. Applied to the problem of corruption, it means that if a supra-cultural worldview based on universal ethical concepts is absent, the passing of legislation to try and prevent corruption, or the imposition of heavy fines to punish perpetrators, will be of limited value.
Efforts by utilitarians to devise anti-corruption systems of necessity always fail to deal with their main problem, namely that utilitarianism in any form is by its very nature focused on reaction. It mainly deals with the problem 'after the act' and it has been shown that utilitarian approaches do not appear very effective as a deterrent for perpetrators of corruption. (Habtemichael 2009:98) writes: 'Most traditional anti-corruption strategies focus on dealing with symptoms rather than causes and emphasise stern punishment, salary increment to public servants or establishing anti-corruption commissions.' He suggests that anti-corruption strategies should be based on ICTs (information and communication technologies), 'because corruption and anti-corruption strategies are complex social phenomena' (Habtemichael ibid:267). The approaches referred to in the above quotations are based on typical act-utilitarian reasoning, namely that the success of a particular act depends solely on its consequences. In South Africa it is found that limited success is achieved by the mere application of the law. Vorster (2012:140) writes: 'The common law system did not prevent the corruption during the Apartheid era and did not reduce corruption after the transition to a full democracy.' The troubling question that arises is: Why should corrupt persons associate punishment with crime unless they live in a society in which offenders are caught and punished regularly? Surely, if the state fails in its obligations, it can be accused of complicity in the creation of a corrupting 'atmosphere'.
The success of punishment, both as retribution and as deterrent, is highly dependent on several factors, namely the efficiency of the relevant judicial system and the correctional services, as well as the local perceptions regarding corrupt activities. A deontological approach, by virtue of its norm-based focus, tends to be pro-active.
The unqualified deontological approach, however, is not without special problems in a developing country with huge education and income inequalities. Deontology has, inescapably, inherited the basic rational idealistic characteristics of the Kantian categorical imperative. Kant's imperative presupposes an ideal society in which everyone acts rationally. In practice, a deontological approach to corruption in a hugely unequal society creates the very real danger that, with the focus firmly set solely on the observance of laws and rules, the corrupt human is objectified and the problem 'solved' by meting out the appropriate desert. The specific personal reasons behind the actions of a corrupt person are seldom investigated. His action may have been prompted by abject poverty, lack of appropriate experience in a position of trust, peer pressure, et cetera. Dewey (1988) writes:
By killing an evil-doer or shutting him up behind stone walls, we are able to forget both him and our part in creating him. Society excuses itself by laying blame on the criminal; he retorts by putting the blame on early bad surroundings, the temptation of others, the lack of opportunities, and the persecutions of officers of the law. Both are right, except in the wholesale nature of their recriminations. No amount of guilt on the part of the evil-doer absolves us from the responsibility for the consequences on him and others of our way of treating him, or from our continuing responsibility for the conditions under which persons develop perverse habits. (p. 20)
The heartless application of unqualified deontological theory in an unequal society will have limited success in eradicating corruption.
From the above it seems that a two-pronged effort is required in order to combat corruption. In this effort, the best of two worlds, that of the deontologist and that of the utilitarian, will have to be brought to bear on the problem. Firstly, there is an urgent need for the 'moral renewal' of the entire population; focused on Christian norms and values and operationalised within the context of the South Africa of today. It will have to amount to the activation of a critical conscience to maintain high moral values at all times. Herein lies a massive task for the church (cf. Vorster 2012; Du Plessis & Breedt 2013). Concomitantly, the state will have to urgently attend to the social context by instigating 'social renewal', based on effective application of the law and education. It is, however, clear that there is no quick solution to the problem.
Each act of corruption contributes to building an 'atmosphere', or social context, that becomes progressively more corruption-friendly. In South Africa, the prevailing poverty, weak government institutions and an eroded moral fibre must be seen against the backdrop of a strong materialistic worldview. Whilst anti-corruption measures are important and should continually be improved, the only effective way to combat corruption is by a long-term programme aimed at 'moral renewal' of the entire population. This programme should be run by the state with specific inputs by the church and should focus on the inculcation of time-tested values and practices based on honesty, integrity and responsibility. In this programme, attention should be given to biblical deontic norms and those aspects of utilitarian theory applicable to a civilised society.
Competing interests
The author declares that he has no financial or personal relationship(s) that may have inappropriately influenced him in writing this article.
Aleixo, J.D., 2011, 'The alleviation of poverty in Mozambique - A Christian ethical perspective', MA Thesis, Faculty of Theology, North-West University, Potchefstroom. [ Links ]
Andvig, J.C. & Fjeldstad, O-H., 2001, 'Corruption - A review of contemporary research', Chr. Michelsen Institute for Development Studies and Human Rights Report, viewed 16 May 2013, from http://www.cmi.no/publications/2001/rep/r2001-7.pdf [ Links ]
Blanchard, B., 1961, Reason and goodness, George Allen & Unwin, London. [ Links ]
Calvin, J., 1957a, Institutes of the Christian religion, vol. 1, transl. H. Beveridge, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Ml. [ Links ]
Calvin, J., 1957b, Institutes of the Christian religion, vol. 2, transl. H. Beveridge, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Ml. [ Links ]
Dewey, J., 1988, The middle works, 1899-1924, human nature and conduct, Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale, I.L. [ Links ]
Du Plessis, A.L. & Breed, G., 2013, 'A possible solution for corruption in South Africa with the church as initiator: A practical theological approach', HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 69(2), Art. 1298, viewed 12 April 2013, from http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hts.v69i2.1298 [ Links ]
Habtemichael, F.S., 2009, 'Anti-corruption strategies in the South African public sector', PhD dissertation, School of Public Management and Planning, University of Stellenbosch. [ Links ]
Hodgson, D.H., 1967, Consequences of utilitarianism - A study in normative ethics and legal theory, Clarendon Press, Oxford. [ Links ]
Kant, I., 2002, Groundwork for the metaphysics of morals, transl. A. Zweig, Oxford University Press, Oxford. (Original work published in 1785). [ Links ]
LaFollette, H., 2007, The practice of ethics, Blackwell, Oxford. [ Links ]
Maestripieri, D., 2012, Games primates play: An undercover investigation of the evolution and economics of human relationships, Basic Books, New York. (Read in abstract form only). [ Links ]
Mautner, T., 2005, Dictionary of philosophy, 2nd edn., Penguin, London. [ Links ]
Mill, J.S., 1907, Utilitarianism, Longmans, Green & Co, London. [ Links ]
Miller, S. & Blacker, J., 2005, Ethical issues in policing, Ashgate Publishing, Aldershot. [ Links ]
Owen, N., 2011, 'Chapter IX: The nature and role of applied ethics in the public sector', Council for Research in Values and Philosophy (CRVP), viewed 06 April 2013, from http://www.crvp.org/book/Series02/II-7/chapter_ix.htm [ Links ]
Perry, G.W., 2005, 'The conflict between liberty of conscience and church authority in today's evangelical church', MA Thesis, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando, F.L. [ Links ]
Pierce, C.A., 1955, Conscience in the New Testament, SCM Press, London. [ Links ]
Pope, S.J., 2007, Human evolution and Christian ethics, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511550935 [ Links ]
Prins, P., 1937, Het geweten, Meinema, Delft. [ Links ]
Rawls, J., 2000, 'Two concepts of rules', in H. LaFollette (ed.), Ethics in practice: An anthology, pp. 480-486, Blackwell, Cambridge, M.A. [ Links ]
Reese, W.L., 1980, Dictionary of philosophy and religion, Humanities Press, Atlantic Highlands, N.J. [ Links ]
Spence, E.H., Miller S. & Roberts, P., 2005, Corruption and anti-corruption: A philosophical approach, Pearson/Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J. [ Links ]
Stoker, H.G., 1967, Oorsprong en rigting, vol. 1, Tafelberg Publishers, Cape Town. [ Links ]
Stoker, H.G., 1970, Oorsprong en rigting, vol. 2, Tafelberg Publishers, Cape Town. [ Links ]
Van der Walt, B.J., 2003, Understanding and rebuilding Africa, Institute for Contemporary Christianity in Africa, Potchefstroom. [ Links ]
Vorster, J.M., 2012, 'Managing corruption in South Africa: The ethical responsibility of churches', Scriptura 109, 133-147. [ Links ]
Wallace, R., 2012, The deontic structure of morality, viewed 16 May 2013, from http://philosophy.berkeley.edu/file/2/Deonticstructure-final.pdf [ Links ]
World Bank, 1997, 'Helping countries combat corruption - The role of the World Bank', viewed 16 May 2013, from http://www1.worldbank.org/publicsector/anticorrupt/corruptn/corrptn.pdf [ Links ]
Schalk Vorster
PO Box 20514
Noordbrug 2522, South Africa
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Received: 07 Sept. 2012
Accepted: 24 Apr. 2013
Published: 10 July 2013
1. 'Quemdam inesse humanae menti, et quidem naturali instinctu, divinitatis sensum, extra controversiam ponimus; si quidem, ne quis ad ignorantiae praetextum confugeret, quandam sui numinis intelligentiam universis Deus ipse indidit, cuius memoriam assidue renovans, novas subinde guttas instillat: ut quum ad unum omnes intelligent Deum esse, et suum esse opificem, suo ipsorum testimonio damnentur quod non et illum coluerint, et eius voluntati vitam suam consecrarint..


text:
"I expected to come away from reading Spark impressed with Jason Jaggard's thoughts and encouraged by his stories. But I was also inspired to start taking my own risks to make a difference in small ways and big. This book is a valuable tool for anyone looking to move from contemplating life to fully living it."
—Mike Gogis, Willow Creek Association chief financial officer
"Jason's flair for writing makes Spark as enjoyable to read as it is insightful. His drumbeat is that small risks often lead to dramatic transformations. Jason offers encouragement to everyone who seeks to make their lives and the world around them better, one risk at a time."
—Andrew K. Benton, president of Pepperdine University
"Game changer! It's a term that is used to describe the monumental changes that occur in an array of spheres—from politics to the music industry to sports and everything in between. Spark is a game changer for life and those who desire to live life loud."
—Dr. Marcus "Goodie" Goodloe, catalyst at Mosaic, a Los Angeles faith community
"Spark Groups will ignite you. Jason Jaggard invites everyone into movement by creating beautiful spaces (Spark Groups) where each person embraces the genesis of change. Spark Groups reveals an author with a contagious passion for others and the willingness to walk by your side as you take meaningful risks. Anyone will benefit from reading this book, and bold readers will be charged, challenged, and changed."
—Brian Kammerzelt, assistant professor and chair of communications at Moody Bible Institute; founder and director of The Just Life

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Sporting and Benfica share spoils in draw
Sporting and Benfica cancelled each other out in the Lisbon derby as they drew 1-1 at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Saturday.
Fredy Montero's fifth goal of the season handed the hosts the early advantage but Serbian Lazar Markovic ensured that the spoils were shared with a second-half strike.
Benfica spurned an opportunity from a promising free-kick in the final third and were punished with a swift Sporting counter-attack that was finished by the head of Montero with 10 minutes gone.
Enzo Perez should have equalised before half-time as he arrived late in the Sporting area and connected with Bruno Cortez's low cross, but he put it over the bar from a few yards out.
Both sides showed attacking intent but a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping meant that the game's second goal did not arrive until 20 minutes into the second half.
The goal was worth the wait, however, as Markovic – a half-time substitute for Eduardo Salvio – picked up the ball before skipping past the challenges of three defenders and poking the ball past Rui Patricio.
In Saturday's only other match, Vitoria Setubal put their poor start to the season behind them as they recorded their first win of the campaign, beating Vitoria Guimaraes 4-1 away from home despite being reduced to 10 men.
Paulo Tavares opened the scoring for the visitors from the penalty spot in the 20th minute, but Marco Matias' third goal in his 31st match for Guimaraes levelled the scores on the stroke of half-time.
Paraguayan defender Javier Cohene restored the lead for Setubal early in the second half, with Ramon Cardozo notching two.
Ruben Vezo was sent off for the visitors in the closing stages.
Get the best features, fun and footballing frolics straight to your inbox every week.
Thank you for signing up to Four Four Two. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.


text:
How To Get Rid of Bed Bug Home Remedies
How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs Fast And Easily is a question asked by many people. Bed bugs are insects that invade homes with a speed of light. Even five star hotels may have bed bugs problems.
Bed bugs live in our beds and bedrooms and are only active at night. These crawling night stalkers pierce the skin and feed by sucking human blood.
Getting rid of them is difficult and requires persistence. This is How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs Fast And Easily in 4 easy steps (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNXn8X76e8w)


text:
Go Grizzlies!
23405 SW Scholls Ferry Road Hillsboro, OR 97123-9317 503.844.1600
July 18, 2019 - Late Tuesday, July 16, the Oregonian reported that Oregon Manufacturers and Commerce - the group that had filed a referendum with the state indicating it would seek to block implementation of the taxation portion of HB 3427, the Student Success Act (SSA) - announced it would not be pursuing the referral after all.
The group cited legislative constraints as the reason for dropping the effort, including the passage of SB 116, which moved the date of a potential election to January 21, 2020, from November 3, 2020.
This does not preclude the possibility of other individuals or groups mounting a referral effort, though no other referrendum has yet been filed. Such an effort would require the gathering of nearly 75,000 signatures by Friday, September 27, 2019, to move forward.
It also does not preclude the possibility of Oregon Manufacturers and Commerce or another group taking up the referral effort once the tax is in place. But it now appears almost certain that the business tax will go into effect on January 1, 2020, which is great news for K-12 and other educational initiatives across Oregon.
Plans for the use of SSA funds, which are expected in the 2020-21 school year, are due from districts in November 2019. Plan development includes the involvement of parents, community members, and other stakeholder groups, so please watch for opportunities to participate and provide your feedback.


text:
(Nasdaq: UNTD) and our name tells our story. We bring people together, uniting them across time, distance and devices. We unite friends and acquaintances, we unite people with technology, and we unite advertisers with their audience. Think of us as a bridge; on one side is your product or service, on the other side our millions of users. The Internet is constantly evolving and growing and it's our job to help you take advantage of that. We'll show you who to talk to, how to talk to them, and where to talk to them.
Looking to reach your audience effectively while they're making decisions online? We can help. United Online is home to several properties that allow you to connect to millions of potential customers through our Internet Service Providers NetZero and Juno; and our Web hosting services at MySite.


text:
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) Ben McLemore scored 24 points, Kevin Young added 16 points and eight rebounds and ninth-ranked Kansas rolled to a 90-54 victory over former Big 12 member Colorado on Saturday.
Elijah Johnson hit three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points, and Travis Releford added 10 points and six assists for the Jayhawks (7-1), who have won seven straight since losing to Michigan State early in the year.
Kansas used an 18-3 run in the opening minutes to silence a small but vocal section of Colorado fans, pushed the advantage to more than 20 by halftime and kept building on it throughout the second half. The lead surpassed 30 with 17 minutes left and reached the 40-point mark with about 8 minutes to go.
Josh Scott finished with 19 points to lead the Buffaloes (7-2), who have lost two of three after rattling off six straight wins to start the year. Askia Booker added 15 points, while leading scorer Spencer Dinwiddie was held to four points on 1-for-4 shooting. Xavier Johnson missed all four of his field-goal attempts before fouling out.
It was another rough day in Allen Fieldhouse for the Buffaloes, who have lost 19 straight to the Jayhawks and 46 of 47 dating to the 1991 season. The longtime Big 12 member, which bolted for the Pac-12 last season, hasn't won in Kansas' storied arena since the 1982-83 season, a span of 29 consecutive games.
Kansas coach Bill Self is 18-0 against the Buffaloes, and has won 11 straight against the Pac-12.
The Jayhawks led 43-22 at halftime after turning Colorado over 12 times and coughing up a possession just twice in the first 20 minutes. The result was a lopsided 22-2 advantage in points-off-turnovers, and a big lead despite missing its final 10 3-point attempts of the half.
McLemore nearly out-scored the Buffaloes by himself, pouring in 17 points.
The freshman guard, who sat out last season as a partial NCAA qualifier, did his best work slashing through the lane and getting to the foul line. But he also picked Colorado's pocket on a couple of occasions, once tipping the ball over a defender's head and tracking it down for an easy dunk and an 18-3 lead in the opening minutes.
The only stretch that Kansas wasn't running at optimal efficiency came midway through the first half, when it missed seven straight field goals and Colorado closed within 29-18. As if on cue, the Jayhawks scored the next nine points to force Buffaloes coach Tad Boyle - who played for Kansas in the 1980s - to call a frantic timeout.
Dinwiddie, who had scored at least 20 in three straight games, only played 12 minutes in the first half. He picked up two fouls in the first 5 minutes, and at one point went to the locker room favoring his left leg.
The Jayhawks came out of the locker room and produced an 11-2 run.
The spurt included a nifty feed from Young to Jeff Withey under the basket and a block by Withey on Colorado's Andre Roberson that led to a run-out and a dunk by Releford. The crowd roared down the stretch as some of the Jayhawks' reserves got into the game.
Kansas wound up shooting 55-percent from the field, despite putting the game in cruise control down the stretch. The Buffaloes finished with 18 turnovers and shot just 37 percent, hitting 2 of 13 from beyond the arc.


text:
Moonroof, Nav System, Back-Up Camera, LIVE COCKPIT PRO W/NAVI, CONVENIENCE PACKAGE, Aluminum Wheels, Rear Air, Turbo Charged Engine. Jet Black exterior and Black SensaTec interior, 330i trim. EPA 36 MPG Hwy/26 MPG City!WHY BUY FROM USAustin and Central Texas you now have a New Choice for Authorized BMW Sales! Hendrick BMW of South Austin is Now Open! With over 109k square feet in our new Two Story Showroom we have created an environment like non-other in the TX. We a large selection of BMW Inventory along with Pre Owned and Certified BMW vehicles to choose from. As part of the Hendrick Automotive Group we are also able to offer a large variety of PreOwned Vehicles. Visit us today to experience the Hendrick Difference!OPTION PACKAGESCONVENIENCE PACKAGE Comfort Access Keyless Entry, Lumbar Support, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, 1 year All Access subscription, Active Driving Assistant, cross-traffic alert rear, For vehicles equipped w/navigation, speed limit info is additionally included, LED Headlights w/Cornering Lights, Active Blind Spot Detection, Park Distance Control, LIVE COCKPIT PRO W/NAVI Connected Package Pro.Fuel economy calculations based on original manufacturer data for trim engine configuration.This Dealership checks the vehicle recall status prior to making any pre-owned vehicle available for sale. Manufacturers and/or NHTSA may announce additional recalls at any time. To inquire about the recall status of this vehicle, visit: https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/
New vehicle pricing includes all offers and incentives. Tax, Title and Tags not included in vehicle prices shown and must be paid by the purchaser. While great effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, errors do occur so please verify information with a customer service rep. This is easily done by calling us at 844-332-9958 or by visiting us at the dealership.
**With approved credit. Terms may vary. Monthly payments are only estimates derived from the vehicle price with a 72 month term, 5.9% interest and 20% downpayment.
*Number of views in last 30 days
† Based on 2020 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
888-585-1535Call Now
2473 Pleasant Hill Rd • Duluth, GA 30096Get Directions
Open Today! Sales: 9am-9pm
Open Today! Service: 7am-6pm


text:
Saa7162 devices
Saa7162 devices are collectively those PCIe devices that are based upon either a SAA7160, SAA7161 or SAA7162 chip, and which will be supported under Linux by the SAA716x kernel driver module.
- 1 Supported Cards
- 2 Examples of saa7160 Based Cards
- 3 Examples of saa7162 Based Cards
- 4 Examples of saa7160e Based Cards
Supported Cards
There are currently no supported cards. (Check here for current status of driver development).
Examples of saa7160 Based Cards
AVerMedia AVerTV Speedy Hybrid PCI-E
- AVerMedia AVerTV Speedy Hybrid PCI-E Its a combo card Analog + DVB-T
Kworld pe355-2T PCI-E Dual DVB-T TV Card Pro
- Kworld pe355-2T PCI-E Dual DVB-T TV Card Pro is a dual DVB-T card.
Examples of saa7162 Based Cards
Blackgold TV BGT3540
A "6 in 1" PCI express card, dual digital satellite, dual digital terrestrial, dual analogue terrestrial. Dual F connectors for two DVB-S sources, one Belling-Lee connector for terrestrial.
See product page and specifications.
DNTV PCI Express cards
- DNTV Live! Dual Hybrid PCI Express (a rebadge of the FlyTV Express X1 MST-T2A2EX, see below)
- DNTV Live! QuattroS PCI Express
See v4l discussion.
KWorld PCI Express Hybrid
An early example of a card that uses the saa7162 decoder chip is this hybrid card, which also supports Intel's serial digital video out (SDVO):
See product page.
(Someone needs to tell them it's hybrid, not hybird!)
LifeView Express cards
Philips PCV290
Dual DVB-T and Dual DVB-S Reference Design
Uses 2xTDA8263 DVB-S Tuner, 1 x TDA10093 Dual Channel DVB-S channel decoder, 2xTDA8275A DVB-T Tuner, 2xTDA10046A DVB-T channel decoder, 1xSAA7162E TV video/audio decoder/PCI express interface)
Pinnacle PCTV Dual Hybrid Pro
Tuner cards from Pinnacle with PCI Express x1. PackardBell have some windows drivers for them.
Pinnacle PCTV Dual Analog + DVB-T + DVB-S, Pinnacle_PCTV_7010iX: Two FM, DVB-T, analog TV, and two DVB-S recievers. Chips used: Philips SAA7162, Philips TDA8275A, Zarlink ZL10313 (for DVB-S).
Pinnacle PCTV Dual Hybrid Pro PCI-e, Pinnacle_PCTV_3010iX: Low profile card, Two FM, DVB-T, analog TV recievers. Chips used: Philips SAA7162, Philips TDA8275A.
ViXS Diamond Reference Design
In August 2005, ViXS Systems announced the Diamond PCI Express TV tuner reference design. The design provides for analog and hybrid (analog/digital) video processing, combining ViXS' XCode II-L Dual MPEG Encoder with Philips' SAA7162 Dual Video Decoder and Philips' TV tuner (press release).
Examples of saa7160e Based Cards
Creatix CTX975
PCIe DVB-T receiver in a 34 mm Express Card design.
See product page and specifications.


text:
Our system could not confirm your address to be valid and cannot find a recommended alternative. It is strongly recommended that you edit the address and try again. You may also continue with the address as you entered it if you are sure it is correct.
* Prices may vary based on local reseller.
Get advice, answers, and solutions when you need them. For general questions, email us at firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
JDK 8u141 now available
Change effective on 20 July 2017
Heroku's support for Java 8 has been upgraded to include OpenJDK 8u141. To set the JDK version for an application, create a
system.properties file in the root directory of your project and put the following code in it:
For more information on Heroku's Java support, see the Dev Center documentation for Java. For more information on OpenJDK 8u141, see the OpenJDK documentation for Java 8.


text:
Strategy, Motorsport and Quality Management
We use our own and third party cookies in order to improve your experience and our service. With the aid of cookies we analyze the typical use pattern of visitors to the website. Your continued use of our website shall be conclusively deemed acceptance of the use of cookies. For further information please read our Privacy Policy.
born 25 November 1956
appointed until 31 December 2023
Strategy, Motorsport and Quality Management
After graduating from the Montan-University in Leoben (Business and Energy Management), he began his career in 1982 at HOVAL GmbH in Marchtrenk as sales assistant and then later as sales manager and authorised officer. In 1987, Stefan Pierer founded the CROSS holding group (now KTM Industries group) in which he acts as shareholder and member of the Board of Directors.
Supervisory board directorships at listed companies:
deputy chairman oft he supervisory board SHW
Brand Management, Product Management, PG&A
After graduating from the Johannes Kepler University Linz (Business Administration), Hubert Trunkenpolz started his career at ISA Audivisual Communication Corp. as marketing manager and subsequently at TRUMAG as sales manager/managing director. He has been at CROSS Group (now KTM Industries group) since 1992 and a member of the Executive Board of KTM Motorrad AG since 2004. Hubert Trunkenpolz also became a member of the Executive Board of KTM AG in 2007. In 2018 he became a member of the supervisory board of KTM Industries AG.
Finance and Treasury, Controlling, Law and Insurance, Risk Management and Dealer Financing, HR, IT & Organization
After graduating from the Johannes Kepler University in Linz with a degree in Business Administration, he started his professional carrier at KPMG in the field of financial auditing and tax consultancy. In 2005, after completing his tax consultancy examinations and an MBA program at the University of Toronto, Viktor Sigl joined voestalpine AG to become head of Corporate Tax & Finance Advisory. Before joining the KTM AG, he was commercial director in the field of international industrial assembly.
Research and Development
After completing his training at HTL in Salzburg, specializing in mechanical engineering, he began his professional career in 1995 as a project manager at Palfinger AG in Salzburg. After moving to KTM Group, he worked from 1998 to 2009 as project manager, as head of the department for street motorcycles and then as development manager for the KTM vehicle. Since 2010, Philipp Habsburg has been the head of research and development, since 2011 additionally as managing director of KTM Technologies GmbH and since 2015 as authorized officer of KTM AG.
Global Sales, Customer Service Commercial Business Development, Promotions
After completing his IBWL studies at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, Florian Kecht started his career in sales at KTM Sportmotorcycle AG. After several years of experience in international sales, he took over the management of customer service in 2011 and the responsibility for trade marketing in 2013. Florian Kecht has been an authorized officer of KTM AG since 2012 and, since 2014, managing director of KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH.
Production and Logistics
After completing his studies at the Montan University in Leoben, specializing in materials science, Walter Uitz began his professional career in 2002 at Miba Gleitlager Austria GmbH in the area of ??material development and subsequently as a business unit manager in the plain bearing production department. In 2008, Mr. Walter Uitz moved to the CROSS Investment Group (now KTM Industries Group) where he worked as plant manager of Wethje Carbon Composites GmbH. Since 2013, he has been working as head of production at KTM AG, since 2015 as authorized officer and since 2017 as managing director of KTM-Sportmotorcycle India Private Limited.


text:
How easy is it to create an account? Is it fast, free and easy? Are you able to use your email or social media accounts for signing up? Once you've logged on, what kind of options do you have for survey creation? Can you choose from a huge library of over 100 templates that you can use for your surveys or for brainstorming? If you need questions that have to be imported, are you able to easily upload them into the editor?
When you choose QuestionPro, you have access to all of these features.


text:
Most people have at least heard of and may have listened to the informative, engaging TED Talks. A 1984 conference that began in California really took off six years later and has been held annually ever since. The talks have become more and more popular after being broadcasted online for free. TED Talks are held to a max of 18 minutes, giving viewers a fun, fast way to learn while also being thought-provoking and inspiring.
TED stands for "Technology, Entertainment, and Design" but has widened that scope since 1984 by exploring, connecting, and educating on any "idea worth spreading," which is the TED slogan.
Last October, Jacksonville hosted its first TEDx (the "x" indicating an "independently organized event),"Collective Genius." TEDxRiverside/Avondale hosted nine speakers, four recorded TED talks and four entertainment performances. Jeff Spear, TEDxJacksonville media liaison and partnership relations director, said "the event was very successful and completely sold out."
On Oct. 26, TEDxJacksonville's evolved and expanded event theme will be "Connecting Currents." The theme refers not only to the St. Johns River, the location of the event, but also the connections between Jacksonville's history, culture and people.
The organizers are accepting applications from those who would like to speak or perform. Spear said speakers must have great ideas that are worth sharing but must also be able "to make the presentation of their lives." As anyone who has watched TED Talks knows, the "E" for entertainment is always emphasized. Those who want to speak or perform (as well as those who want to suggest speakers andperformers) are encouraged to apply early, although the official deadline is June 30.
TED Talks require not only engaging performers and speakers but also a responsive audience. Those, who wish to attend this year's event must complete an application, which will be evaluated almost as closely as the applications for speakers and performers.
"We want an engaged audience. It makes for an even more exciting day," Spear said.
TEDxJacksonville's "Connecting Currents" will be held Oct. 26 at WJCT on the St. Johns River with food, entertainment and, of course, "ideas worth sharing." The ticket price will depend on sponsorships. Anyone wishing to sponsor TEDxJacksonville should contact Jeffrey Spear at email@example.com.
Find out more about TEDxJacksonville on Facebook, Twitter, its blog or its website.


text:
Will Nasdaq weather the Facebook storm?May 23, 2012: 11:28 AM ET
Nasdaq's Facebook "snafu" may prove to be good news for rival NYSE Euronext (NYX) as the battle for exchange domination continues. While Nasdaq is seen as the logical choice for tech companies to go public, this latest disaster could make techies think twice.
It's still early days so it's too soon to tell if there will be a big shift away from the tech-heavy Nasdaq (NDAQ). But NYSE will likely be happy to tout the Facebook (FB) issue as they try to attract more tech firms to debut on their exchange.
There's a lot of pressure for bigger and faster trading and stock exchanges around the world as they face growing competition from electronic and high frequency traders. Over the past five years, there's been a raft of mergers as exchanges try to make sure they don't become obsolete.
NYSE said it listed 13 new tech IPOs during the first quarter, representing 59% of all technology IPOs, including Yelp (YELP), LinkedIn (LNKD), Millennial Media (MM), Vantiv (VNTV), and Guidewire Software (GWRE). But Nasdaq still gets kudos for reeling in the big fish, like Groupon (GRPN) and Facebook gaming site Zynga (ZNGA).
But it will take more than one IPO disaster to make a dent, according to Sandler O'Neill analyst Richard Repetto, who noted that roughly 14% of Nasdaq's total revenue comes from listing fees. But only a very small portion of that is the initial fee. Nasdaq gets a much larger portion in annual fees from all of its 2,600 listed companies.
It appears Nasdaq's shareholders also aren't overly concerned. They reportedly threw their support behind exchange CEO Bob Greifeld, who has led the Nasdaq since 2003, at the annual meeting Tuesday.
But not everyone is as confident. Deutsche Bank analysts cut rating on Nasdaq to "hold" from "buy," saying the near-term issues will put downward pressure on volume.
"While we still think the FB issue is manageable, given the uncertainty around the glitch, the potential liability, and insurance coverage, we expect it to weigh on the stock in the near term," wrote Deutsche Bank analyst Michael Carrier in a client note.
Nasdaq's stock has fallen nearly 6% over the past five days, while shares of NYSE Euronext have slid a much more modest 1.5%. Facebook got its first boost since it went public, with shares rising roughly 4% Wednesday.
Stay tuned.


text:
Wall Street advanced as solid economic data and a sigh of relief for the health care industry underpinned sentiment.
The latest data on the US economy bolstered expectations that the recovery is on track at a pace that will also safeguard the Federal Reserve's backing.
Factory orders advanced 3 per cent in February, slightly ahead of economists' expectations for a 2.9 per cent gain.
"Good numbers are good and bad numbers are good because it keeps the Fed at the side of the market," Burt White, managing director and chief investment officer at LPL Financial in Boston, told Reuters. "The market continues to move higher, driven by the premise of stimulus."
In afternoon trading in New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.65 per cent, as did the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, while the Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.73 per cent.
Health care stocks gained after the government said it will lift payments for private Medicare Advantage insurers by 3.3 per cent, scrapping its original plans to lower rates.
Shares of Humana rose 6.5 per cent, while those of UnitedHealth climbed 4.9 per cent.
In Europe, the Stoxx 600 Index ended the session with a 1.3 per cent advance from the previous close. Most European markets had been closed for the Easter holidays on Friday and Monday.
Benchmark stock indexes in London, Frankfurt and Paris rose as well, adding 1.2 per cent, 1.9 per cent and 2 per cent respectively.
The tone of Wall Street helped boost the mood in the euro zone, outweighing the latest batch of disappointing clues on the regional economy.
Euro-zone unemployment climbed to a record 12 per cent in February, according to the European Union's statistics office. The January figure was also revised up to 12 per cent, from an earlier estimate of 11.9 per cent.
A gauge of manufacturing in the region dropped to 46.8 in March, the lowest in three months, and down from 47.9 in February, according to Markit Economics.
"It's a mix of the weaker-than-expected PMI data and the rise in the unemployment rate," Brian Daingerfield, a currency strategist at Royal Bank of Scotland Group's RBS Securities unit in Stamford, Connecticut, told Bloomberg.
"With those two pieces of data coming in soft, along with general weakening in some of the macro data we've seen, there may be some expectations being priced in for additional ECB easing."
The ECB's policymakers meet on Thursday.


text:
Joe Black Day in the Life Episode 5 [Hells Kitchen Submitted]
Joe blacks takes you on a day in his life. To the studio and off to the club for a show Follow him on twitter @therealjoeblack Instagram:@therealjoeblack and watch more of his series at http://www.youtube.com/j0bleezyhk
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
Oct 09, 2013 - Dallas, TX
The International Surface Event 2014 attendee registration is officially open. SURFACES, StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas and TileExpo will be held January 27-30 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV. Attendees are encouraged to register early as all shows are offering complimentary education registration if they register by the early deadline date of November 29, 2013.
Online registration is available at www.SURFACES.com, www.Stonexpo.com and www.TileExpo.com where information is accessible 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Registration will be easier than ever on the newly redesigned websites which launched September 2013. Advance registration will save attendees not only money, but also time by not having to wait in on-site registration lines.
"By registering early for the show, attendees have the opportunity to save on Exhibits Only registration plus they'll receive full access to our unparalled education program at no additional cost," said Amie Gilmore, Associate Show Director, SURFACES | StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas | TileExpo. "The registration process is easy and will ensure that attendees receive the most up-to-date show information and a place in the education session of their choice."
Dana Teague, Vice President of Hanley Wood Exhibitions, commented, "The International Surface Event 2014 will be a turning point for the industry as we introduce TileExpo. Attendees will see a wide array of products, services and trends, as well as have endless networking and educational opportunities. This will create an environment that will manifest business knowledge, skills and growth."
Registration Packages
Exhibits Only Package includes Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday access to exhibit halls, all on-floor education/demonstrations, and some select classroom sessions. Early pricing is $5 for WFCA and MIA members and $15 for non-members.
Exhibits with Education Package includes the same benefits as the Exhibits Only package and full education program admission Monday, January 27 through Thursday, January 30. Early pricing for this package is $5 for WFCA and MIA members and $15 for non-members.
Pricing for each package will increase after November 29 through January 27, 2013 and again for on-site registration, January 27 through January 30.There are also various other educational opportunities available as an add-on to either package for additional fees. Visit www.SURFACES.com, www.StonExpo.com, or www.TileExpo.com for more information.
The International Surface Event 2014 will be held January 27-30 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV. Exhibits will be open Tuesday – Thursday and the Education Program opens Monday, January 27 and goes through Thursday.
For more information on attending or exhibiting at SURFACES 2014, visit www.SURFACES.com or call 800.547.3477 or 972.536.6400.
For information on attending or exhibiting at StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas 2014, visit www.StonExpo.com or call 800.547.3477 or 972.536.6440.
For information on attending or exhibiting at TileExpo 2014, visit www.TileExpo.com or call 800.547.3477 or 972.536.6380.
About the Sponsor of SURFACES
The official sponsor of SURFACES is the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA), the floor covering industry's largest advocacy organization representing floor covering retailers, contractors and allied service providers throughout North America.
The WFCA is a recognized leader in marketing research, industry certification programs, and operates the premier consumer flooring website, www.wfca.org, providing unbiased information about every type of floor covering and connecting customers to members' retail stores. The WFCA also influences public policy affecting the floor covering industry and consumers. For more information about the WFCA, visit www.wfca-pro.org.
About the Sponsors of StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas
StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas' Official Sponsors are the Marble Institute of America (MIA) and Natural Stone Council. The mission of the MIA is to promote the use of natural stone and be the world's most authoritative natural stone information resource. Membership in the association is worldwide and includes over 2,000 natural stone producers, exporters/importers, distributors/wholesalers, fabricators, finishers, installers, and industry suppliers—all committed to the highest standards of workmanship and ethics.
The Natural Stone Council, home of the Genuine Stone® brand, is the leader in the stone industry that represents the major associations who are committed to promotion and education of the industry and general public of the value and benefits of natural stone. Member associations include: Allied Stone Industries, Building Stone Institute, Elberton Granite Association, Indiana Limestone Institute, Marble Institute of America, National Building Granite Quarries Association, National Slate Association and Natural Stone Alliance.
StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas 2014 official endorsers are Veronafiere and ASI.
About Veronafiere
Veronafiere (Verona Trade Fair Company) is Italy's most important direct organizer of trade shows and among the top organizers in Europe. Founded in 1898, Veronafiere now focuses on economic sectors of primary importance to the Italian economy, including stone (Marmomacc), construction (Samoter), and wine (Vinitaly). Veronafiere conducts or hosts 37 trade shows a year in Verona and 11 abroad. Annual turnover in 2007 was more than $110M.
Marmomacc is the global leader in natural and engineered stone materials and related technologies and design. Samoter is one of Europe's major exhibitions of construction equipment and earth-moving machinery. Vinitaly is the largest wine trade show in the world. All three are owned and organized by Veronafiere.
About Hanley Wood
Hanley Wood, LLC is the premier media and information company serving the residential, commercial design and construction industries. Through its operating platforms, the company produces award-winning digital and print publications, e-Newsletters, websites, marquee trade shows and events, market intelligence data and custom marketing solutions. The company also is North America's leading publisher of home plans.


text:
The week has finally wound down, and I'm calling an end to the 100Mhz experiment. It was an interesting run, and I'm glad I followed it through to the end.
I say that because I was tempted about halfway through to call it quits, mostly for hardware reasons. Maybe it's my imagination, but that stuttering power switch seems to be more of a problem as the days wear on. And it just plain scares me to watch the power flicker through the entire machine like that. That can't be good for a 12-year-old computer. Or an 8-year-old wireless card and a two-week-old hard drive.
Overall I learned a lot during this little adventure. And with the notes I kept I think I can make some advances with that machine in the future — if the hardware holds out, of course.
I think the biggest revelation in the entire week was just how light and fast a machine can run, if you forego graphical toolkits completely and rely on terminal applications. Xorg 7.3 itself, for whatever reason, runs amazingly light on that hardware, but shifting to a console-only enviroment makes it unstoppable.
That's the reason I rebuilt my 550Mhz Celeron today with Awesome 2.3.4 and console applications only — nothing from either of the GTK sets, no fonts save Terminus and no icons. I'm using mplayer for movies, cplay et al. for music and elinks for browsing. It's quite a bit faster than the Pentium, and that's only natural, but the difference between this and the previous installation with a graphic environment is also a huge improvement.
Regardless of the software, the system still needs something to act as an intermediary for USB or SD card or CD access. It's a hard fact that a machine without a CD player just isn't going to be able to use a CD. 🙄 So even if I were to use the machine full time, I'd still need something else on the side to pick up the slack created by relying on a machine that predates widespread USB use.
Since I'm discussing hardware, it goes without saying that the best idea for a machine like this is to make sure it's running at 100 percent, and not have to worry about trivial details, like stuttering power switches. 🙄
And since I mentioned it, yes, I do believe I could continue to use the machine full time, for daily tasks. There would always be blind spots on it, but to be honest there wasn't much I ran across in a week of use that the machine couldn't at least work around.
Software-wise, I think I made only one small error, and that was to rely on emacs over vim. Nano proved to be a washout, since it wouldn't do the line-wrapping-without-linefeed trick, but emacs was a monster on a machine with only 16Mb of memory, and there wasn't a really good reason for keeping it on there. I've looked at vimwiki and a few other vim options since then, and I think, if I had it to do over again, vim would be the way to go.
But to be too honest, I am probably just a crackpot. It takes a strange mentality to consider downgrading your entire collection of laptop computers to a single machine that doesn't even have a CDROM. I doubt there are many people who will agree with the idea, so I will only say that I wouldn't be uncomfortable shifting to a 100Mhz machine with 16Mb.
On the other hand, I used to own a Compaq Presario 1020 in museum condition, and that one with the same arrangement would have easily erased every other machine from my menagerie. One hundred and twenty megahertz, 48Mb of memory, CDROM, integrated JBL speakers and a 1.08Gb hard drive that I would immediately swap out for something with some speed.
Yup, that was the machine to keep. Only I didn't, and I kick myself on occasion for getting rid of it. Oh well. Hindsight, etc., etc.
So the moral of the story, with the entire week in the rear view mirror, is that there's little you can't do with an old computer like that, so long as you're willing to take the time to learn it, set it up and get used to it. Make a few allowances here and there, keep an open mind, don't put too much pressure to perform on yourself or the machine, and yes, you too can live free and easy with a computer you found in the trash.
But hey, if it's a nice enough machine, it's anything but trash. 🙂


text:
Bethel motorcycle shop its own destination
BETHEL -- In less than two months, Hamlin Cycles on Grassy Plain Street is already becoming a destination for members of the motorcycle community.
That's because owner Jim Hamlin has been in the business selling and outfitting motorcycles for more than two decades. During that time, Hamlin, who specializes in several motorcycle brands including Triumph and Moto Guzzi, developed a growing customer base that will drive from Buffalo and beyond for his services.
The shop offers services from used motorcycle sales to repairs, accessories, and customized bikes. In the fall the shop expects to become an authorized dealer for Moto Guzzi, an Italian brand with a growing following in the region.
And when it came time for Hamlin to open his own shop, downtown Bethel, he said, is the perfect location.
"Many of my customers that I've developed over the years live along the coast," he said.
Route 53, he said, is a scenic road often used by bikers for weekend rides.
"Customers can drive up to have their bikes repaired and visit some of the downtown restaurants while they wait," he said. "It's really a perfect location for us."
Besides attracting Triumph and Moto Guzzi customers, Hamlin said he also has a certified Harley-Davidson mechanic on staff who adds another dimension to the business. The business can also service most Japanese brands.
"That's fantastic news," Danbury resident Stephen Szurlej said when he stopped in to check out the new shop on Friday.
While Szurlej usually brings his bikes to a shop in Branford, he said that he is excited to have a local shop that could be his new home away from home.
"I can walk here from my house," he said. "I can't wait to tell all my buddies about it."
And Hamlin specifically designed the layout of the shop to be a comfortable and inviting space for his customers.
"It's the kind of place where someone can pull up a stool to the counter and talk bikes," he said. "I want a place where our customers can hang out and feel at home."
Bethel Chamber of Commerce President Bobbi Jo Beers said she is excited to see new and different types of businesses opening in the downtown, especially businesses that serve as a destination.
"It's always a benefit when we have a business open in the downtown that draws from a wider area," Beers said. "That way more people can visit Bethel and see what a great hidden gem it is. I wish them all the best of luck moving forward."
Hamlin, who rides almost every weekend, said he's enjoying every minute of the new business.
"I've been able to make a living from my hobby," he said. "Not many people can say that."
email@example.com; 203-731-3358; www.twitter.com/DirkPerrefort


text:
Support Systems
Get Help For Yourself
Support Systems
Who Is In Your Support System?
When you're going through a tough time, you often feel alone. But you're not — there are people all around who can help! Confiding in a trusted friend, teacher, supervisor or family member can be the first step toward building a system of support that will help you stay safe. So, who can you turn to?
At Home
Your family may be a great resource if you're experiencing dating abuse. They may know you best and be around the most, but it can be really hard opening up to a family member. What if your parents didn't want you to date at all, and now you're in an abusive relationship? Will you get in trouble? How can you even bring up the topic to your family? What if you confide in a sibling and they tell your parents? It's understandable to be embarrassed or scared to approach family members.
We want you to feel empowered to get the support you deserve. No one should have to go through an unhealthy or abusive relationship alone. Consider these steps when turning to family members for support.
Identify a family member you trust
No one knows your situation or family better than you do. Who can you talk to in your family about what you're going through? Who's a good listener? Who has your best interest at heart? Consider which family member you are most comfortable just being around. Also, think about that person's experience with relationships. If you admire their relationships, maybe they can help you figure out what to focus on.
Ask yourself, "Am I ready to share?"
Just because you've picked a family member, doesn't mean you're ready to talk yet — and that's ok. If you feel close to your sister but haven't spent time with her lately, try to bond more before bringing up the topic. Spending time together may help you feel more comfortable when you're ready to share. Test the waters by bringing up a related topic and gauge how your family member responds.
Bring up the topic
It can be hard to talk about dating abuse. If you can't find the words to start, consider a creative icebreaker. Ask your family member to watch a movie with you and pick out a film like Lifetime's "Reviving Ophelia." Or share an article that discusses dating abuse via email and talk about it when you get home that night. No matter how you approach the topic, you're doing the right thing by speaking out.
Set your boundaries
Once you've decided to share your situation, consider what role you want your family member to play. If you only want to talk and not receive advice, kindly let them know. If you want what you share to be confidential, tell them that upfront.
Know that the family member you tell might inform someone else. If physical abuse is happening and they're worried for your safety, they may inform your school or even the police. If you tell a sibling, they may feel overwhelmed and involve your parents. Sharing can be a risk, but the support you receive may outweigh any violation of trust.
Be prepared for a strong reaction
What happens after you share? Often, family members react in a way that makes you feel like they're mad at you, when they're really mad at your abusive partner or the situation. They're upset because they love you and don't want you to be mistreated. If they start ranting against your significant other, let them know that it hurts and isn't helpful.
If you need guidance finding your support system at home, please chat with us today. We can help you find a way to open a dialogue at home.
What if my family loves my partner?
If your family loves the person you are with, it may be difficult to get them to see or understand that this person is abusing you. However, talking to someone close within the family or someone else that knows your relationship situation like a friend may be helpful. That person may be able to help you talk to your family about your abusive partner. Remember that although your family may love your partner, they should also want the best for you.
In School
Schools have a responsibility to keep their students safe. If it makes it easier for you, consider talking to the teacher and/or counselor that you feel the most comfortable with. Talking with someone can be hard — but it can also make your situation easier and help keep you safe. Choose the teacher or staff person you feel most comfortable with and talk to them about your situation. They are there to support you through difficult situations, particularly ones that may affect or disrupt your learning. We know it may not be easy, but especially if your abusive partner goes to the same school as you, it can be really important.
Remember, a teacher or counselor may be a mandated reporter, meaning they may be required by law to report your situation to the authorities if you've been physically hurt or a crime has been committed. Chat with a peer advocate to find out about the mandated reporter laws in your state.
What is a mandated reporter?
Mandated reporters are adults who work in particular fields who are required by law to report any type of child, sexual, physical or financial abuse. Examples of mandated reporters include teachers, school counselors, doctors, nurses, dentists, social workers and police officers. They are required to tell an appropriate authority if you're being neglected or in real danger. Mandated reporting rules are different in each state. Remember, these laws are meant to protect you, not get you in trouble.
What are my rights at school?
Every student has the right to go to school and be free from harassment, abuse and discrimination. Schools should be a safe place to learn. If someone or a group of people are making school dangerous for you, consider telling someone who can make the situation better, like a school counselor or administrator.
You also have the right to call the police if you need help. If you're in immediate danger, dial 911 right away.
Approaching school administration
Speaking to school staff or administrators may seem intimidating, but they are there to help and support you. If you have a favorite teacher or counselor, speak to them in private. Go to see them during lunch or outside of the regular school day. If it makes you more comfortable, bring a good friend who already knows the story. Tell the school official your concerns and what would make you feel safer. Ask what the school can do to help during class, after-school activities and when you're arriving and leaving school.
Once you've spoken with someone, be sure to check back in with them. Tell them whether or not things are getting better and ask if they've taken the steps you talked about.
In Your Community
When you're going through a tough time, you often feel alone. You are not. There are people all around who can help. Consider reaching out to these members of your community if you're in an unhealthy or abusive relationship.
Try reaching out to your friends but be careful about what you share. Friends can provide a lot of support, but they can also spread information you'd rather keep private. Make sure to specifically point out anything you want to keep secret and share the fact that breaking your trust may put you in danger.
Do you have a favorite teacher? Try talking to him or her for support. If you aren't close with this person already, it may be awkward. Stay after school and start by discussing your homework or questions about class. Once you feel comfortable, let them know you need to talk. Understand that your teacher may be required to tell someone about your situation, depending on the state or school policy.
A faith leader or mentor
Someone in your faith community may be a good choice to open up to because they probably share your values, are willing to talk with you and may be able to speak confidentially. If you don't know the person well, tell them about yourself first and see how they react. If they're judgmental, they're probably not a good choice.
School counselors
Consider talking to your school counselor — they may be trained on dating abuse and should know the related campus' policy and resources. They may also be able to help you talk to your parents, campus police or school principal. Try approaching your counselor about a different problem. Then, based on their reaction, decide if you feel comfortable talking to them about your relationship.
If you have a coach you feel comfortable around, hang around after practice or approach them during a free period at school. Since coaches often focus on both mental and physical well being, yours may be able to provide a unique perspective on your situation. Again, know they may be required to report any abuse to their superiors.
Extended family
Consider your extended family when looking for support. A close aunt, uncle or cousin may be able to help you. Be upfront with your family member about your needs. It's ok to say you're only looking for someone to listen if you're not ready for advice. Also, be sure to point out any information you want to keep confidential and clarify what's ok to share with others.
Campus safety or police
Ask your local or campus police for help before and after an abusive incident. Feel free to use them as a resource by asking questions about your rights. Campus police should be aware of school policies about dating violence and may know resources available on campus. Local police hopefully have similar information about the law and community services. Consider requesting an officer to periodically stop at your residence and check on your safety.
If you ever feel unsafe, be cautious and call your local law enforcement. Once you're safe, make sure they file a report on the incident.
At Work
Most people prefer to keep their professional and personal lives separate. However, if you're in an unhealthy or abusive relationship, this separation can be complicated. We know it can be hard to tell anyone about your situation, but talking to your coworkers may help keep you safe. Here are some ways to create a support system at your workplace.
Talk to a coworker
A coworker can provide emotional support and play a role in your safety. Before confiding in someone, consider the same steps we suggest for selecting family support. Make sure the person is really trustworthy and supportive.
Tell the coworkers you trust what your partner looks like, so they know not to let him or her into your workplace. Also, ask them not to reveal your work schedule so your abusive partner won't show up unannounced or know your daily routine. If you don't want to share your personal information with everyone at work, make sure to tell your trusted coworkers to keep your situation private.
If you feel comfortable talking to your boss or someone of authority at work, you may find out there's a policy in place or a friendly manager designated to assist you. Also, you can provide those you tell with a copy of your restraining order if you have one, and they can then help you enforce it by calling the police if your abusive partner shows up.
Make friends with building security
If you feel your abusive partner may come to your job, leave their picture with the security guard and ask they never let your partner into your workplace. Also, consider asking to be walked out of the building if you don't feel safe.
No security in your building? Then it's even more important to tell a coworker and/or your supervisor. Ask a friend to walk you out of the building and scout out alternate exits if possible.
Find accommodations
Does your company or organization have additional job sites? It may be possible for you to switch locations without any penalties to your status at work. If you relocate, it will be harder for your abusive partner to find you.
You may also be able to ask for time off for court hearings or counseling without losing your job.
Know your rights
Some states consider domestic violence as "good cause" to leave a job. If you live in a state where this is true, you may qualify for unemployment benefits if your abusive relationship is interfering with your ability to work.
If you are in an abusive same-sex relationship and fear disclosing your situation will cause you to be discriminated against at work, there may be laws in your state protecting you.
Chat with a peer advocate to learn more about the laws in your state.
Safety plan
Do you know what to do if your abusive partner shows up at your work? What will happen if they call while you're working? Be prepared — create a safety plan.
With Friends
Your friends can be great support systems for helping you if you are in an unhealthy or abusive relationship. Many times friends already know or see that your relationship is unhealthy. However, even if they do know, telling them about your situation may still be hard. You might wonder: What if they tell someone else? What will they think of me? Will they understand? Will they judge me?
A friend you trust
Start by picking someone you feel you can trust. Make sure to specifically point out anything you want to keep secret and share the fact that breaking your trust may put you in danger. Remember that even though you might be really close, you may still find it hard to talk to your friends about your relationship.
They might already know your situation or have an idea of what it might be, but they could also be totally surprised. If you don't like their reaction, switch the conversation. Remember, you can only control yourself, not what your friend does. Be very clear about what you don't want them to tell others, especially if it concerns your safety. You know your friends best — try to pick the ones who are most likely to support you.
Support from friends can be come in many different ways. Support may be something as simple as them just being there for you and listening to what you have to say. It can also be someone that gives you advice when you need it. Another way your friends can also be supportive is by helping you create or carry out a safety plan. Friends can…
- Walk to and from classes with you during school.
- Make sure to never leave you alone with your abuser when they are with you.
- Keep important things with them if you're afraid that your partner might find them when they're with you (for example, any evidence that your partner is abusing you).
- Make sure you have a ride wherever you go.
Remember that friends are the ones most likely to know and see that you're in an abusive relationship.
Set your boundaries
Once you've decided to share your situation, consider what role you want your friends to play. If you only want to talk and not receive advice, kindly let them know. If you want what you share to be confidential, tell them that upfront too.
Know that the friend you tell might inform someone else. If physical abuse is happening and they're worried for your safety, they may inform your school, family or even the police. Sharing can be a risk, but the support you receive will hopefully outweigh any violation of trust.
Not everyone will understand
What happens after you share? Often, friends may react in a way that makes you feel like they're mad at you, when they're really mad at your abusive partner or the situation. They're upset because they love you and don't want you to be mistreated. If they start ranting against your significant other, let them know that it hurts and isn't helpful.
If you need guidance finding a support system with your friends, please chat with us today. We can help you find ways to get support.
Don't forget: you can always call, chat or text with a loveisrespect advocate!